Nifedipine and Prazosin Have Similar Antihypertensive Effects In these patients with mildly or moderately elevated BP

In a randomised double-blind crossover study, 19 patients, aged 33-60 years, with essential hypertension (supine diastolic BP 95-119mm Hg on placebo) received oral nifedipine 10-30mg bid as sustained release capsules. prazosin capsules 1-5mg bid, and placebo, each for 12 weeks.

Mean supine BP was reduced (p < 0.01) by nifedipine (from 165/103 to 145/90mm Hg) and by prazosin (from 167/103 to 147/94mm Hg). 13 and 9 patients on nifedipine and prazosin, respectively, recorded supine diastolic BP < 95mm Hg at the end of each active treatment period (vs 1 on placebo). Mean supine heart rate remained stable throughout the trial.

Two patients withdrew from nifedipine treatment because of headache (n = 1) and peripheral oedema (1 ), and 2 patients withdrew from prazosin treatment because of dizziness and asthenia Patients completing the study reported adverse effects to nifedipine (n = 11) including oedema, palpitations, transient flushing and headache, and to prazosin (8) including asthenia, headache and transient postural dizziness. Four patients on placebo reported adverse effects including asthenia,

headache. postural dizziness and epigastric pyrosis. Nifedipine increased mean serum total lipoprotein level, particularly the apo-A lipoprotein fraction (by 169% from baseline and 12.6% from placebo: p < 0.01) This fraction was also increased by 10.6% and 9%. respectively, with prazosin (not stgnif1cant). There were no significant changes tn other metabolic parameters.

Thus. nifedipine and prazosin effecttvely reduced BP in 76°/o and 52.9% of patients. respectively. without adversely affecting the metabolic profiles of these patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension Mauareo M De Ver.uto G B•asoon T F,,,.,a, A Vlooro R Current ;,.,e,dpeutoc Researcr. 41 356·366 '.1a: 1987

12 INPHARMA"· 27 June 1987 0156-2703!87/0627-0012!0$01 oo;o © ADIS Press